Hand knitting or weaving device.



A. PUTMAN. HAND KNITTING 0R WEAVING DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 22, 1909.

HEBTS-SHEET 1.

Patented May 10, 1910.

A. PUTMA N.

HAND KNITTING OR WEAVING DEVIGE.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 22, 1909.

957,711 .5 Patented May 10,1910.

2 SHBETSSHEET 2.

ALICE IU'I'MAN, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

HAND KNITTING OR WEAVING DEVICE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 10, 1910.

Application filed November 22, 1909. Serial No. 529,395.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Anion PUTMAN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Hand Knitting or \Veaving Devices, of which the following is a specification.

Certain hand weaving devices, as now used, comprise a circular frame-work, having in its central portion a round hole, and provided, near the periphery of the hole, with vertical, or nearly vertical, pins or staples, about which the threads used in the knitting process are manipulated, and which serve to maintain the fabric in shape during the knitting or weaving process.

It is found in practice that when using vertical, or nearly vertical, pins or staples, there is a tendency for the thread or yarn to become disengaged from them, unless they are slanted back from the hole at a considerable angle; or unless they are provided with hooked top portions, a construction which makes it necessary to pull the thread outward away from the hole in order to raise it up over the top of the hooks.

In knitting on a hand device of this kind, the process generally consists in adding lines of knitting to the outside of the fabric, thus gradually adding to its periphery, and, as the process continues, the newly knitted fabric moves inwardly toward the central part of the knitting device and begins to pass downwardly through the hole. It is often found necessary to draw the article, as, for example, in the making of a cap or stocking, in which it is necessary to draw the first formed portions together, so as to close the hole originally formed. This drawing which comprises, as it were, a uniform tightening of the texture in the middle portion of the fabric, is made difiicult when the pins or staples are placed near the periphery of the hole.

It is the object of my invention to provide a new and better device on which hand knitting processes can be carried on, and which can also be used for weaving purposes, and which will not only serve in the making of small and trivial articles, but can also be used in making useful knitted or woven objects, such as caps, stockings, gloves and sweaters, or doilies, mats, small hammocks, etc.; and my invention consists in the features of construction and combination of parts hereinafter described and claimed.

In the drawings, like reference numbers refer to corresponding portions of different vlews.

Figure 1 is a top or plan View of my improved knitting or weaving device, showing also a modified manner of placing the pins or staples; Fig. 2 is a cross sectional elevation of the same; Fig. 3 is a plan View of it, showing a cap in the knitting process; Fig. 4 is a cross sectional elevation of the same, showing the manner in which the fabric passes down into the central portion of the device; Fig. 5 is a plan view of the device showing it as used in the weaving of a square mat or similar article, in which the warp threads are parallel; ,Fig. 6 is a plan view showing the manner in which the device would be used for making a round doily or similar article, in which the warp threads are radial; and Fig. 7 is a detail showing one manner of making a stitch on my improved device.

The device comprises a circular framework 8, provided on its inner portion with a circular hole 9, and on its periphery with horizontal, or nearly horizontal, staples 10.

The working surface of the framework 8 is preferably provided with a slanting or concave face 11, so that the inner periphery 12 of the frame-work is of less thickness than the outer periphery 13. The staples 10 are preferably placed farther from the working face 11 than from the opposite face 1 1, and are preferably given a small slant away from the working face, as shown in the figures. The staples 10 are preferably arranged so that the space between two staples will be approximately equal to the width of each staple, the object of which arrangement will more clearly appear in the latter part of this specification, but any desired arrangement of spacing may be adopted for the staples. Furthermore, I prefer to place the staples in the periphery of the frame-work in such a way that groups of them will be approximately parallel when viewed from the working face, as shown at 15 in Fig. 1, the staples between each pair of groups being so arranged as to obviate any great difference in angularity between adjacent staples, as shown at 16 of Fig. 1.

I do not wish to restrict myself to the use of a frame-work and staples exactly as shown in the figures, but it is seen that cersuccessful operation of my device.

tain modifications may be made without departing from the spirit of my invention. For example, the staples might be placed exactly radial, as shown at 17 in Fig. 5, or the staples might be of different form from.

those represented, or they would not necessarily have to slant away from the working face of the device, or the frame-work itself would not necessarily have to be circular,"

or woven fabric can be made on this device,

that a number of different forms of stitch may be used, and that a great many kinds of articles can be made on it. In the figures, I show only a manner of making certain articles which are very familiar.

In Fig. 7 I show the most common manner of forming the knitting stitch, but it is understood that other forms of stitch may be used.

I have found that the use of this device is far more satisfactory than any other similar device used for similar purposes, with which I am familiar.

Making the working face with eitheika slanting or concave formation is found to greatly facilitate the carrying on of knitting or weaving operations, and to greatly improve the evenness of the fabric, but such formation is not absolutely essential to the It is found, however, that placing the staples in the periphery of the frame is a marked improvement over the old type of device, in the facility of the knitting or weaving process, in the quality of the product, and in the convenience of packing the device for shipment. F or it is seen that as soon as the knitted fabric passes up over the rim of the frame-work, the tension on it decreases suddenly, and that it can therefore be drawn more easily than fabric made on the older type of device.

By the use of the expression pins or staples, I do not wish to restrict myself precisely to the use of said device for holding the fabric, as it is seen that a large number of holding devices might be satisfactorily used in their stead.

I claim:

1. In a knitting or weaving device, the combinationof a frame-work having a hole thereiin'one side of the frame-work being of concave formation, and staples in the periphery of the frame-work for holding the fabric, substantially as described.

; 2. In a knitting or weaving device, the combination of a frame-work having a hole therein, one side of the frame-work being of concave formation, and staples placed in the periphery of the frame-work for holding the fabric, said staples being inclined away from the concave face of the framework, substantially as described.

3. In a knitting or weaving device, the combination of a circular framework having a'circul'ar hole in its central portion, one side of the frame-work being of concave formation, and staples placed in the periphery of the frame-work for holding the fabric, said staples being inclined away from the concave face of the frame-work, substantially as described.

4. In a knitting or weaving device, the combination of a circular frame-work having a circular hole in its central portion, one side of the frame-work being of concave formation, and groups of staples placed in the periphery of the frame-work in approximately parallel relation to each other, said staples being inclined away from the concave face of the frame-work, substantially as described.

5. In a knitting or weaving device, the combination of a framework, one side of the frame-work being of concave formation, and staples in the periphery of the framework for holding the fabric, the staples being set away from the concave side of the frame-work, substantially as described.

ALICE PUTMAN.

I/Vitnesses:

JUDITH FAIRFAX-SCOTT, MARY R. Fnos'r. 

